Lent Day 7: Perfect Prayer for the Will of God by Fr Pius Odediran
Rev. Fr Pius Odediran has called on Christians to deepen their prayer life and align their hearts with the will of God as the Church journeys through the sacred season of Lent.
In his homily for Tuesday of the First Week of Lent, themed “Perfect Prayer for the Will of God” and drawn from Matthew 6:7–15, Rev. Fr Pius Odediran reflected on the centrality of the Lord’s Prayer as the model of all Christian prayers. He emphasised that true prayer is not merely the repetition of words but an intimate communion with God rooted in obedience, forgiveness, and total surrender to the Father’s will.
The Lord’s Prayer: A Model for All Communication with God
According to Rev. Fr Pius Odediran, prayer is fundamentally “lifting up our hearts and voices to God.” He explained that when Jesus taught His disciples the “Our Father”, He offered not just a prayer formula but a perfect structure for relating with God.
The priest noted that the prayer begins by recognising the existence and holiness of God, acknowledging Him as Father. It then moves into submission to His will — “Thy will be done” — a phrase that captures the heart of Christian discipleship.
Rev. Fr Pius Odediran stressed that the Lord’s Prayer clearly expresses humanity’s dependence on God. “Give us this day our daily bread,” he said, reminds believers that everything they have comes from the Father. At the same time, the prayer acknowledges God’s forgiving heart, while placing a responsibility on Christians to extend that same forgiveness to others.
He pointed out that the closing petition — asking to be delivered from temptation and evil — reinforces the reality of spiritual struggle and the need for divine protection.
Why Prayer Is Essential for Every Christian
Addressing the question, “Why pray?”, Rev. Fr Pius Odediran stated that prayer is necessary because God commands it. However, he added that beyond obedience, prayer sustains intimacy with God and strengthens believers for their mission.
He cited the example of Jesus, who constantly withdrew to pray before major moments in His ministry. Jesus prayed:
- Before taking significant steps in His mission
- In lonely places away from the crowd
- In the temple with His parents
- Before performing miracles
- In the Garden of Gethsemane
- For Peter against temptation
- For His disciples before His departure
Rev. Fr Pius Odediran highlighted how Jesus addressed God as “Abba,” meaning “Daddy” or “Father,” revealing a deep and personal relationship. Despite this intimacy, Christ remained obedient to the Father’s will.
“He was aware of His mission and prayed for God’s glory to shine,” the cleric noted, explaining that prayer strengthens awareness of purpose and deepens obedience.
The Word of God and the Fulfilment of His Will
Drawing from Isaiah 55:10–11, Rev. Fr Pius Odediran compared the Word of God to rain that never returns to heaven without accomplishing its purpose.
He explained that the Word of God is the expression of God’s will. Therefore, when Christians pray, they are asking that the spoken will of God be fulfilled in their lives.
Jesus, described as the Word made flesh, came to fulfil the Father’s will through His teachings, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection. Yet throughout His earthly mission, He never stopped communicating with God.
“Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find,” Rev. Fr Pius Odediran reminded the faithful, urging them to remain steadfast in prayer even in difficult moments.
Living Out Our Baptismal Mission
Rev. Fr Pius Odediran further explained that just as Jesus was sent on a mission, every Christian has also been commissioned through baptism.
He noted that believers are called:
- To teach and evangelise
- To show mercy
- To proclaim the Word of God
- To care and pray for one another
“As we live our lives as Christians, we must never forget the God who gave us life,” he said. “As we work, never forget the God of the work.”
He encouraged Christians to intentionally create moments of solitude to pray, just as Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to commune with the Father.
The Practical Action Word: Forgiveness
A key focus of the homily was forgiveness. Rev. Fr Pius Odediran warned against hypocrisy in prayer, stating clearly: “Do not pray for what you are not willing to share.”
He explained that anyone asking God for mercy, love, abundance, peace, or long life must be ready to extend those same gifts to others.
“If you will not forgive those who offend you, your heavenly Father will not forgive you either,” he cautioned, echoing the words of Christ in the Gospel.
Forgiveness, he stressed, is not optional for Christians; it is a condition for receiving God’s mercy.
A Lenten Call to Deeper Intimacy with God
As Lent progresses, Rev. Fr Pius Odediran’s message serves as a timely reminder that prayer is more than routine recitation. It is a relationship. It is surrender. It is mission.
Christians are urged to reconnect with the Father, align their desires with His will, and allow their prayer life to bear fruit in action — especially through forgiveness and mercy.
In a world filled with distractions and pressures, the homily challenges believers to remain constantly connected to God, just as Jesus did.
For Rev. Fr Pius Odediran, the will of the Father was Christ’s mission. For Christians today, that same will must guide their daily lives, decisions, and relationships.
As Lent continues, the call remains clear: pray sincerely, forgive generously, and live in total obedience to the will of God.
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